Ephesus a Step Back to Roman Times

Cybele, the Anatolia earth-mother goddess, whose outstanding quality was her fertility. On her annual feast day, great orgies took pleace here. When the Romans arrived, they identified her with Diana, their own fertility goddess, and the cult continued for more than a thousandyears, conferring great wealth on the city as devotees flocked to it from all over the world. The down fall of the goddess came with the advent of christianitiy. The ephesus ancient gate approach road takes you past the ruins of a vast Roman gymnasium and stadium. When you head straigiht to the intersection of the marble street and Arcadian Way, you can climb the steps of the theatr for some of the best views of the site. The Arcadian Way used to lead straigiht down to the harbour and was lined with sops and porticoes; even as ealy as 400 BC it had street lighting. It was here that Cleopatra made her triumphal entry into Ephesus to visit Mark Anthony... On the Marble Street you can see the ruths made by the chariot whells on the Library of Celsus as which is the best preserved structure of its kind in the world. From the library, the impressive Curettes Street snakes up the hill to the Magnessian Gate. To the right are expensive villas and to the left are various public buildings. On the way to Magnesian Gate, the Temple of Hadrian, the public toileds, the Roman Bath of Scolastica with the adjacent brothel can be seen. Ad the end of the road, you reach the Odedion, the State Building and the upper Agora; with the market pleace on the right hand side...

In the forested hills 5 miles (8 km) from Ephessus lies the house / chapel known as Meryemana, where the Virgin Mary is said to have lived out her last days. The ruins of the house, along with a spring were discovered in the 19th century after a disabled German lady, for years confined to her bed, and who had never set foot in Turkey, describes its exact location as revealed to her in a vision. A priest from. Izmir (the bishop of St. Polycarp's church in Symrna) read her description and in 1981 set out to find the house. It is now a destination for pilgrims from all over the world.

PERGAMON TOUR

Ancient Hierapolis : many visitors are so focused on the amazing rock formations, they barely notice that the high plateau is also the site of the ancient spa of Hierapolis, built by Pergamon King in the Roman era, to gain control of the springwater and harness its reputed religious and mythical qualities. Most of the ancient ruins are set back from the plateau edge; the first group you come to as you walk "inland" are the original Roman Baths, consisting of two tall, vaulted rooms now housing a small museum. Beside this is a "palaestra", or an open coutyard for exercise, and behind it lie the remains of a vast Basilicia with three naves, thought from its size to have been the cathedral erected in the 6th century when Hierapolis became a bishopric. Further up the plateau stands the restored "nymphaeum" and close by is the Temple of Apollo, recognisable by its wide flight of stairs. The modern road follows the course of the original main street for a mile (km) until it reaches the Monumental Gate to the north, passing on the right the huge theatre, still well-preserved and with some magnificent carvings and reliefs. Do not miss the tombs that line the old road out to Ephesus from this northern gateway. Over 1200 have been counted, making this one of the most extensive ancient cemeteries in Asia Minor.

Aphrodisias : the isolated ruined city of Aphrodite lies some two and a half hours' drive inland from Selçuk, on flat, fertile ground surrounded by distand mountains. It owes its outstanding reputation today to Professor Kenan Erim, a Turkish national attached to New York University, who in 1961 began excavations on the site, and devoted the remaining 30 years of his life to the site. He is now buried here. The path leads first out toward the perfectly preserved theatre, originally made, then converted by the Romans for gladiatorial entertainment. Nearby is the Agora and the theatre baths. Beyond the man-made hill into which the theatre is set lies the impressive Baths of Hadrian, with a handsome exercise ground in black and white marble. From here the path leads to the little odeon with nine rows of perfectly preserved seats, the most charming remains at Aphrodisias. Next to it is the so-called Bishop's Palace, with its delightful blue marble columns from local quarries. Beyond looms the gigantic Temple of Aphrodite itself, with 14 columns reerected from the rubble left by the earthquakes and by the building's conversion into a basilica (law court) in the 5th century.

 Dolmabahce Palace, The last residence for Ottoman Sultans with 365 rooms and 22 salons. Famous with the great collection of European antiquity, furniture and 4.5 tons chandelier.
Bosphorus Bridge, Unique chance to step from one continent (EUROPE) to another (ASIA) in 2 minutes.
Camlica Hill, Exposing a panoramic view of Istanbul and Bosphorus from the best point of view.
                                                            Tour Price : 40£

Tour Price : 50$

Tour Price :50£

Anzac Cove

Lone Pine Australian Memorial  

Johnston's Jolly(Turkish & Allied trenches
& tunneis)

The Nek

Chunuk Bair New Zealand

Memorial

Lunch box included

All transportation in A/C 'No Smoking' bus

1 night hotel accomodation in Canakkale

Fully guided Gallipoli and/or Troy tour

include Museum entrance fees

Price : 130$

 Tour Price : 1004$

After a relax trip on the MARMARA SEA cruise will stop at BUYUKADA (Big Island), one of the most popular and beatiful island of the PRINCES' ISLAND. Famous with sandy beaches and pinewood scenary. Tour of the island with horse drown carnages before having lunch in a fish restaurant. Cruise back to Istanbul and transfer to hotels.
Important Notice. This tour will be practised with regular boat if minimum number of attendants not provided for the private yacht.  

Tour Price : 85£

Price : 80£